One of the most highly anticipated middleweight title fights in recent UFC history is officially on the books for late summer.
Reigning champion Dricus Du Plessis is set to defend his belt for the third time when he faces undefeated powerhouse Khamzat Chimaev in the main event of UFC 319, scheduled for August 16 at the United Center in Chicago.
UFC CEO Dana White confirmed the matchup on Tuesday during an announcement on Instagram, revealing the Du Plessis (23-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC) vs. Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) title showdown as part of the promotion’s stacked summer lineup.
The fight was previously rumored to headline UFC 317, which takes place during International Fight Week on June 28. However, it was recently revealed that Du Plessis had suffered an injury, delaying the official announcement.
The bout will now serve as the main event of the landmark UFC 319 card in Chicago later this summer, while Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira are set to clash at UFC 317 for the lightweight title, expected to be vacated by Islam Makhachev.
Former KSW champion Dricus Du Plessis has taken the UFC middleweight division by storm over the past few years. The South African earned a title shot after knocking out former champion Robert Whittaker in 2023, then went on to defeat Sean Strickland by split decision to capture the belt.
He made the first successful defense of his title last summer, submitting Israel Adesanya at UFC 305. Earlier this year, he dominated Strickland in their rematch this past March.
Like Du Plessis, Khamzat Chimaev remains unbeaten in his UFC career. After bouncing between the welterweight and middleweight divisions, "Borz" now appears to have settled at 185 pounds.
His dominant submission victory over Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 last October solidified his first title shot—one many fans believe is long overdue.
